If you’re like me, you’re always thinking about a diet, starting a diet, or – worst of all – going off your diet for just one little treat! I’m constantly trying to find ways to lose those last few pounds. So, I’ve gathered up the twelve best ways for you to get motivated to lose weight. Check out my tips below and see if you have tried these!
1. Take before pictures …
Go ahead and take some really bad pictures of your “before” self. I mean, really bad. No smiles, no makeup, no styled hair… just you, a sports bra, and a pair of underwear. When you see those pictures stuck to your fridge, you’ll be a lot less tempted to chow down on some ice cream or cake.
2. Get a support group …
If you want to lose weight successfully and stay motivated long-term, you need backup. So, get some weight losing support behind you. There’s lots of ways to do this… start an exercise group, begin a “biggest loser” competition at work, or join an online weight loss website. If you’ve got cheerleaders, you’re less likely to quit the game!
3. Go public …
In addition to getting support, you’ve got to go public with your goals. I don’t mean buying a billboard in Times Square, but you need to share your weight loss goals with some people in your life who can hold you accountable. Why? Because it will be really embarrassing when you have to tell all these people you’ve given up! So, you’ll be less likely to quit if you know you’ve got an audience.
4. Read the labels …
When you’re shopping, you’ve got to read the labels on what you buy. Don’t just assume that a product screaming “Low Fat” on the front of the box is actually good for you… flip it over and look. Consider calories, fat, sugar, and sodium when choosing what you’re going to eat. Also, check that portion size… sure, 3 grams of fat per serving is great, but if it is for a tiny portion, can you really stop eating after that small amount of food?
5. Set realistic goals …
Don’t think you’re going to lose fifty pounds in two months… or even three or four. Setting high goals doesn’t really help you. Instead, it just sets you up for frustration and failure. Plan to lose 2-3 pounds per week… that’s healthy and safe for you body, and you’ll really be burning fat, not just losing water or muscle. Read about losing weight realistically on WebMD.
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6. Get your priorities straight …
Sure, your salad would taste amazing with a little extra dressing or some added toppings … but would delaying your weight loss goals be worth that taste? You might not think one extra tablespoon of mayo on your hoagie makes that much difference, but these little things add up. Make up your mind that you’re willing to miss these little extras for a while, and you’ll meet your weight goals that much quicker.
I think the most difficult thing about any diet, is to get started…..then keep up with it… especially after you reach that certain plateau of not dropping these unwanted pounds as quickly as you did at the beginning. Then again,if we all took our health into account, in addition to appearance, we would definitely try to eat healthier, and stay in shape, as a daily routine.
Hi I agreethat dieting is just hard all together. I have dieted for the last 6 years since I have gained weight. Nothing has worked until recently. I have been using the ultimate body applicators since January and have lost 2 pant sizes. It is a very good jump start for anyone trying to get started loosing weight. Check out my site and give it a try.
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I agree with all of your suggestions. However, I would add one more, and perhaps this is the most important of all: learn to listen to and love your body. As a weight loss coach, I see women following the diet rules, writing down goals, etc. and these are all great, but if they don’t first love themselves, all their efforts will most likely fail.
Thanks for a great post!
im 12 and i REALLY want to lose weight in my stomach and legs but how do i do that since im only 12?
Grace, I suggest eating healthier. I gather that all 12-year olds love their pizza and fast food. Stick to veggies and fruits. They’re good for you and you’ll lose weight eventually. Whatever you do, do not starve yourself.
Grace,
I would like to add that you should focus on being healthy and happy. Too many young girls start dieting at a young age, and this makes it extremely difficult to lose weight when you get older. As Meream said, focus on eating healthy, real foods. Try to limit the junk, and enjoy being a young girl.
Definitely, Tonya. Twelve is just too young to be concerned about appearances.
Grace, you sound like a very intelligent 12 years old, since you are concerned about your body and health. You are getting excellent advise from the other ladies…..eat three healthy meals a day and at least 2-3 healthy snacks in between. Please do not skip meals, because your body will feel that you are starving it, and will slow down your metabolism, which will not help your weight. Fruits and vegetables make great snacks. Baby carrots are yummy, almonds, apples, oranges, yogurt. Drink low fat milk and water, rather than juices and sodas. Stay active, join sports, jump rope, bike, walk, instead of sitting on the couch and watching TV. Staying healthy is the most important thing for a growing young lady, and for everyone for that matter. Next time when you go for a check up to your family physician, ask him for a booklet on nutrition, and you will get more idea about healthy eating. Remember the old saying about eating: Eat your breakfast like a King (big meal), your lunch like a Queen (smaller meal), and your dinner like a bird (smaller yet). Your breakfast is very important since your body needs fuel to get a good start for the day, and to stay focused in school.
Wise words, suburbandgrandma :)
What I do, I have buy a cute little top, just one size to small and try it on every week. When it fits, I get another new one, even cuter. I have also – it took a long time believe me – learned to think as eating right as not a punishement, but a reward. For the little girl, just think about eating right, not dieting. And maybe joining an organized sport like kickboxing would help you gain some confidence as well as being a good workout.
That’s actually a good method. The cute top serves as motivation. :)
All advice here is wonderful. I have two daughters, 7 and 12 yrs old. We all decided to start eating healthy recently, so far so good. My main concern, of course, is my weight. And I must admit my 11 yr old wants to lose weight too. We eat every 3 hours, just healthy foods and snacks. It’s a lot easier when everyone in the family is on the same page! We implemented a cheat day, which is on Sundays. Of course, moderate cheating.
When you’re young, it’s important to eat healthy because diabetes is attacking our youth. My 11 yr old is pre-diabetic, and I explained to her how important it is for her to eat healthy for her health more than her weight. We adults all know that both goes hand in hand. Exercise is a plus!
I make dark chocolate covered strawberries, which are so yummy!
hello. I have been through alot of diets and exercises but food is a big weekness . so I started seeing it as an enemy . Ive been doing this for over 4 weeks now . And so far so good. I never eat real foods just drink alot of water and eat apples and stuff like that . Now people see me as being anorexic =] and that’s how I wanted my appearance to be . And now I’m happy with that . so if ur desperate for wight lose . My advice is to follow wat I’m doing .. Alot of people say not eating makes u gain weight but that’s just to scare people into eating because its not the healthiest thing to do but hey it works.
Thanks for sharing, Ashley! That is a pretty extreme way to lose weight, but hey, it worked for you! Just make sure you eat something from time to time :)
hey,
i weigh 120pound i want to loose 6 pound.please tell me the best way to loose weight.thankyou
Hi. I’m 14 and from reading a disgusting article about what happens to animals in factories, I have made the drastic life change from an omnivore to a vegan-cutting out all dairy, eggs, meat, and any other animal products. I feel happier on this new diet, and less hungry too. Drinking lots of water, soy milk which is fortified by many vitamins as well as calcium, and eating whole grain foods has helped me a lot. I’ve seen myself slimming down in the mirror as well, but I won’t go on the scale because of the negativity of it. Every time I’m hungry, I drink a 16oz glass of ice water. In 15 minutes, if I’m still hungry, I’ll eat. It works! Half the time I realize I wasn’t hungry to begin with. Good luck everyone =] and to Ashley, anorexia is a huge problem sweetheart. My friend has been hospitalized multiple times for it…your body goes into starvation mode, in which anything that you DO eat will have all of the fat stored. Please eat healthier, I know you want to be skinny but that is not the way to do it.
Im 13 years old but I look like im 16 and im about 5′6 , 5′7 ish and about 140 pounds and i have a medium bone structure i really would like to lose weight but its really hard because you will be trying to eat healthy but then your friend has like a big fudge sundae and then you end up sharing it with her and there goes your diet i would like to be about 110 lbs i know i can do it… have any suggestions that could help me out?
Hey Deanna,
I just wanted to point out that if you did get down to a 110, you’d be under-weight! 140 pounds actually puts you in the normal weight category for your height. Why don’t you just concentrate on problem areas and toning them up instead of losing weight?
I’ve noticed that when I hear slow music or opera songs while eating I eat less.The opposite happens when the music is dancing and cheerful.